Follow the author of this article

Follow the topics within this article

Supermarkets are being urged to create a plastic-free aisle in every store to prevent tons of waste packaging ending up in the world’s oceans.

Around 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, yet just 12 per cent is recyclable, and much of it is washed into the seas where it is toxic to wildlife.

Environmental activist organisation A Plastic Planet will lobby Britain’s major supermarkets in the coming weeks to urge them to offer food packaged only in biodegradable materials.

A truck load of plastic is emptied into the world's oceans every minute on average Credit:
Plastic Oceans Foundation

The Government is considering adding up to 20p to plastic bottles, which could be reclaimed when they are recycled, in an effort to cut waste. The 5p charge that was added to plastic bags in October 2015 has already led to usage falling by 80 per cent. But campaigners are urging retailers to go further.

Sian Sutherland, a trustee of Plastic Oceans Foundation, is to meet with representatives from all the main supermarkets. She said: “There is a growing realisation that plastic is not disposable and is harming our planet, yet the maddening thing is that it’s virtually impossible to buy food without packaging.

“We have more choice than ever for everything. There are countless gluten-free, organic or kosha aisles, and yet we have absolutely no choice about buying food that is packaged in plastic.

“It is a double whammy problem because not only does it make us feel guilty about all this packaging we are using, but science is starting to show us that wrapping food in plastic can bring health problems.”

The campaign A Plastic-Free Aisle, will be launched by A Plastic Planet in the next few weeks, and environmentalists say their plan is "clear, simple and doable".

Supermarkets including Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s said they would respond to the proposals once discussions with campaigners had taken place.

The call for action comes amid the launch of film A Plastic Ocean, which is backed by the Plastic Oceans Foundation and is being shown at special screenings across Britain to highlight the sheer scale of plastic pollution in the sea.

Sir David Attenborough, who was interviewed for the film, said: “The whole of the ecosystems of the world are built on healthy oceans and if that part of the planet becomes dysfunctional and goes wrong, the the whole of life on the planet will suffer.”